Mamiya RZ67 pro ll

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June 1996

Outdoor Photographer

Medium-Format Wildlife

Jim Zuckerman

Wildlife photography isn't easy. Even under the most ideal circumstances, capturing an intimate and private moment in the life of a wild animal is a tremendous challenge. If you can find the wildlife and if the sky provides enough light, if you're successful in keeping the subject in focus as it moves and if you can get close enough to determine the correct exposure, and if the animal isn't hidden by branches or tall grass, you just might get the shot.

Advances in 35mm technology in the last 10 years have enabled wildlife photographers to capture amazing images on film that would have been virtually impossible when I bought my first camera, a Canon FT QL, in 1968. Ultrafast autofocus, incredibly accurate auto exposure, high-speed motordrives, super telephotos with outrageous maximum apertures and internal stabilization systems have increased the odds dramatically in favor of photographers. Now, amateur photographers armed with this high-tech equipment can expect to compete with the best of the pros.

Different Strokes

Yet, having said all of this, I've taken a different route. I fell in love with the 6x7cm format many years ago. I've used the Mamiya RZ67 since it was developed. This 6x7 camera has interchangeable backs that rotate between horizontal and vertical, built-in bellows for close focusing of all lenses, aperture-priority auto exposure with stepless shutter speeds and many other well-thought out features.

The extensive line of Mamiya lenses are unbelievably sharp, from the 37mm fish eye to the 500mm telephoto. The 6x7 system is the largest format that can be used for virtually all field applications. Most photographers use the camera in the studio, but I use it under the most challenging conditions.

There are two reasons why I love the 6x7cm format. First, when I project the transparencies in a 6x7 Cabin projector (available from Mamiya), they're absolutely dazzling. Sometimes the images even seem sharper than being there. The resolution is truly astounding; the color saturation and tonality is like nothing you've ever seen.

Secondly, the 6x7 system is more marketable. When I send a selection of images to prospective clients, they instantly know that I'm a serious professional and give careful consideration to the images. The size also grabs the attention of photo buyers, since they don't need a magnifier to review the images. In addition, larger pieces of film reproduce better in magazines, books, posters, calendars and greeting cards.

The Down Side

Most wildlife photographers think I'm crazy for shooting with medium format because I've actually made the job of capturing saleable images much more difficult. A medium-format shot may be more marketable, but it's harder to get the image in the first place.

With the 6x7 format, there are no motordrives, no autofocus and no internal stabilization systems. The Mamiya powerwinder advances the film at approximately one fps, which is slower than I can do it manually. The top-end shutter speed of the RZ is 1/400 sec., which is relatively slow if you want to freeze a running animal like a cheetah.

Reprinted with permission of the publisher.